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Marketing is certainly an important aspect of any business. Home based businesses are no exception. Here are a few tips on promoting your home business.

1. Create and personalize business cards, preferably with a company logo. Be sure to include email address(s) and website URL(s) on the front.

2. If you sell a product, carry several samples with you if you can. Attach a business card to the front. Youll be prepared the next time someone asks you What do you do for a living?. Hand them a sample along with your business card with your contact information so they know how to get more and also see any other products you carry.

3. Collect email addresses from everyone. Contact information can be as good as money in the bank. It is no secret that huge amounts of money have been made from having a good contact list.

4. Start a weekly or monthly newsletter filled with updates and special promotions for your products and services. Snail mail and email it out to every address in your data base (contact list).

5. Learn to write good copy. If you dont have time to educate yourself, hire an exceptional copy writer to assist you. Good copy can make the difference between booming business and lost sales.

6. Request testimonials from experts in your line of work, then use them to help promote your business.

7. Publish your business in every available marketing directory in your area.

8. Word of mouth can make or break a business. Talk up your business when in public and enlist friends and family members to do the same once they become familiar with your products and services.

9. If you dont have one already, get a website. A website is extremely important because it will enable you to establish your presence on the internet and allow you to build your own contact list. Keep it low key, professional, easy to navigate, and full of quality content. Dont overuse graphics and flashy plug-ins that slow down the time it takes for your page to load. Spend some time creating a catchy headline or slogan for your business and add it to your title or heading area. Now would be the time to use the copy writer again if you need one. List your web site with directories like Google, Yahoo, and Inktomi. Make sure you read the webmasters guidelines and ensure that your website conforms to that particular search engines terms of service.

10. Get the word out about your business online by joining discussion forums related to your area of business. Post links back to your website, put them in your signature, and exchange links with other businesses that compliment your service. Avoid associating your site with fly-by-night or shady businesses. Only allow your links to be posted on high quality, reputable sites so do your research. Only post links on your site to businesses or websites that you have also researched thoroughly. This can improve your page ranking and help you move up on the search engine results page and the higher you rank the better your chances of clicks are.

11. It may help to procure advertising space in your local newspaper. You could also check into hiring a professional speaker to read a specially prepared script advertising your business (once again, consult that excellent copy writer) and have your new radio commercial played during prime listening times. Even if you can only afford a few minutes of radio time, it is still a good investment. It helps tremendously to test and track ad results as well and some would say it is essential for success.